ST. PAUL, Minn. — The 2024 legislative session saw dozens of pro-Labor, family-focused and consumer-centered bills passed into law. On Aug. 1, dozens of these laws took effect and started changing Minnesotans’ lives for the better. Senate Labor Committee Chair Senator Jen McEwen (DFL-Duluth) celebrated the advancements and releases the following statement:
“These investments in Minnesotans’ lives and livelihoods will resonate for years to come. The laws that go into effect today cover many issues, but each of them makes Minnesota a better place to live. When we make sure workers are paid what they’re due, the benefits aren’t limited to someone’s paycheck: that stability helps families stay housed, buy groceries, or afford a vital bill. When we’re better stewards of our wetlands and waters, our communities become healthier and more resilient. These successes for working people and beyond will ripple across the Northland and all of Minnesota, from our youngest students to our seniors and elders. As we celebrate this legislation taking effect, I look forward to continuing our shared task of making Minnesota the best it can be for all people, in the next legislative session and beyond.”
Some highlights from the laws coming into effect today include:
- Pay protections for tipped employees, to pay out 100% of tips to the workers who earned them
- Raising the yearly cap on minimum wage inflation adjustments from 2.5% to 5%
- Improvements to rail safety for workers, with increased penalties for safety violations
- Tougher penalties for child labor law violations
- Protections for workers’ pregnancy and parenting leave: employers may not reduce leave because a worker takes time off for prenatal appointments, and they must maintain a worker’s health insurance so long as the worker continues paying any portion of the cost that is their responsibility
- Protecting tenants and homebuyers, by requiring landlords and house-flippers to have their electrical work performed by a licensed electrician
- Updates to family law with language that provides equal protections to LGBTQ parents and families and eliminates dehumanizing red tape
- Streamlining Board of Water and Soil Resources practices and expanding the Board’s authority to better manage watersheds and wetlands, mitigate flooding, maintain soil health, and protect water quality
- Improving public safety and protecting our civil rights by requiring law enforcement to inform drivers of the reason they’re being stopped, instead of asking the driver if they know why they’re being pulled over
- Protecting consumers and preventing fraud at Virtual Currency Kiosks, also known as “Bitcoin ATMs”
###
Learn more about Sen. McEwen.
Read more news from Sen. McEwen.